Astros stymie Mike Trout, Angels for 3rd consecutive win

Houston Astros Alex Bregman (2) celebrates with Yordan Alvarez (44), and Michael Brantley (23) after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Saturday, August 24, 2019.

Houston Astros Alex Bregman (2) celebrates with Yordan Alvarez (44), and Michael Brantley (23) after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Saturday, August 24,

Houston Astros Alex Bregman (2) celebrates with Yordan Alvarez (44), and Michael Brantley (23) after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Saturday, August 24, 2019.

Houston Astros Alex Bregman (2) celebrates with Yordan Alvarez (44), and Michael Brantley (23) after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Saturday, August 24,

Opponents only hope to manage the magnificence of Mike Trout, a generational talent whom players and front office personnel around baseball almost unanimously anoint their sport's best player.

The Astros seem to surpass the stated expectations. They've tamed Trout for the last two seasons and are en route to repeating it again. A 1-for-5 showing torpedoed Trout's season numbers to 6-for-31 against Houston.

For a second straight night, Astros pitchers prevented Trout from making a momentum-shifting strike in the game's most perilous predicament.

With two aboard in the seventh inning of Friday's 5-4 win, Astros starter Zack Greinke faced Trout for a fourth time. Houston held a one-run lead. Trout flew out to center field, removing any fear his presence normally elicits.

A day later, now representing the tying run, Trout again flew out to center field. The failure stranded the bases loaded and sent Houston starter Wade Miley sauntering from the pitcher's mound. Five relievers followed Miley to preserve a 5-2 win against the Angels.

Home runs from Alex Bregman and Michael Brantley buoyed an otherwise inefficient Astros offense. The lineup totaled eight hits and stranded eight runners. After Bregman's three-run home run in the third inning, the Astros put one runner past second base.

Bregman's blast was his 32nd, establishing a new career high with 31 regular-season games remaining. He hammered an inside, four-seam fastball from Angels starter Dillon Peters into the Crawford Boxes, giving Miley a five-run cushion with which to work.

The fast-working southpaw motored through three frames. Miley required only 40 pitches to retire the first nine Angels in order. Command of his cutter improved from the previous three starts. Equal mixing of his three secondary offerings — changeup, curveball and four-seam fastball — kept Anaheim off balance.